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Life Science; Biomes Quiz

Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
 

 1. 
Which of the following is an abiotic factor in a biome?
a.
the kinds of trees
c.
the average temperature
b.
the number of insect species
d.
the mosses and algae
 

 2. 
Which of the following is a biotic factor in a biome?
a.
the quality of soil
c.
the presence of ponds and lakes
b.
the amount of rainfall
d.
the kinds of grasses
 

 3. 
The base of the ocean’s food chains is formed by
a.
blue whales.
c.
plankton.
b.
coral reefs.
d.
sargassums.
 

 4. 
Which of the following is NOT a key abiotic factor in marine ecosystems?
a.
water temperature
c.
amount of sunlight
b.
water depth
d.
amount of plankton
 

 5. 
The place where the ocean meets the land is the
a.
intertidal zone.
c.
oceanic zone.
b.
neritic zone.
d.
benthic zone.
 

 6. 
The area that contains the deep water of the open ocean and is where the sea floor drops sharply is the
a.
intertidal zone.
c.
oceanic zone.
b.
neritic zone.
d.
benthic zone.
 

 7. 
The area that has warm, sunlit water and is where the ocean floor begins to slope downward is the
a.
intertidal zone.
c.
oceanic zone.
b.
neritic zone.
d.
benthic zone.
 

 8. 
Many plants can grow in the littoral zone of a lake because
a.
sunlight reaches its bottom.
c.
there are no animals.
b.
there are no algae.
d.
there is both salt water and fresh water.
 

 9. 
The main food for organisms in the deep-water zone is
a.
photosynthetic plankton.
c.
dead organisms from above.
b.
live trout.
d.
water lilies.
 

 10. 
Where does the open-water zone of a lake end?
a.
where the lakeshore begins
c.
above the littoral zone
b.
beneath the deep-water zone
d.
as deep as sunlight reaches
 

 11. 
How do wetlands help replenish underground water supplies?
a.
The water moves deeper into the ground.
b.
The tree roots soak up water.
c.
Wetlands do not soak up spring snow melt.
d.
Wetlands do not feed into lakes and rivers.
 

 12. 
An ecosystem with wet soil, willow trees, and orchids is likely
a.
a marsh.
c.
a forest.
b.
a swamp.
d.
a pond.
 

 13. 
A lake may become a forest when
a.
there is a severe drought.      c.      water rarely enters the lake.
b.
a swamp becomes a marsh.
c.
the lake fills with sediment over time.
 

 14. 
The speed of water is an important abiotic factor in a freshwater ecosystem because
a.
a tributary has different plants than a river.
b.
faster water has a higher salt content.
c.
animals must adapt so they are not washed away.
d.
animals cannot live in fast-moving water.
 

 15. 
Most of the nutrients in a tropical rain forest are found in plants, so
a.
the rain forest soil is very rich.
c.
there are few animals in the rain forest.
b.
there are few plants on the forest floor.
d.
the rain forest soil is poor in nutrients.
 

 16. 
From where do plankton get food?
a.
small fish
c.
photosynthesis
b.
insects
d.
whales
 

 17. 
How can the littoral zone of a lake or pond be described?
a.
an area with no sunlight
b.
an area with no animal life
c.
an area with no plant life
d.
an area closest to the edge of a lake or pond
 

 18. 
Prairies, steppes, and pampas are types of
a.
chaparral.
c.
deserts.
b.
tundra.
d.
grasslands.
 

 19. 
Which of the following is a type of wetland characterized by plants hanging from tree branches?
a.
swamp
c.
estuary
b.
marsh
d.
pond
 

 20. 
The most biologically diverse biome is the
a.
swamp.
c.
temperate grassland.
b.
tundra.
d.
tropical rain forest.
 

 21. 
What is permafrost?
a.
dry desert soil
c.
ice on the tundra
b.
muddy soil
d.
soil that is always frozen
 

 22. 
Which of the following is a key abiotic factor in rivers?
a.
number of fish
c.
amount of salt
b.
speed of water
d.
how animals adapt
 

 23. 
How does a swamp differ from a marsh?
a.
A swamp has salt water.
c.
A swamp has many birds.
b.
A swamp has trees.
d.
A swamp has very wet soil.
 

 24. 
Which of the following is NOT an intertidal area?
a.
sandy beach
c.
rocky shore
b.
coral reef
d.
mudflat
 

Completion
Complete each statement.
 

 25. 
A nutrient-rich area where fresh water from rivers mixes with salt water from the ocean is a(n) ____________________.
 

 

 26. 
A large area characterized by its climate and the plants and animals that live there is a(n) ____________________.
 

 

 27. 
You are in an area with standing water and willows. You are in a(n) ____________________.
 

 

Short Answer; Pick 5 of the 7 questions to answer.  Worth 2 pts each.
 

 28. 
What are two adaptations that animals living in intertidal areas have to help them deal with crashing waves?
 

 29. 
What are the three zones of a lake?
 

 30. 
Why do most tropical rain forest animals live in the canopy instead of on the ground?
 

 31. 
Which would be warmer, the water in the surface zone of the ocean 200 miles north of the equator, or 2,000 miles north of the equator? Explain why.
 

 32. 
What are the differences between temperate grasslands and savannas?
 

 33. 
The eastern part of the United States and much of western Europe have similar abiotic factors. Do you think the two regions have similar plant and animal life? Explain your answer.
 

 34. 
A factory near a seashore dumps many gallons of hot water into the ocean each day. Would this affect organisms living in the water nearby? Explain your answer.
 

Essay; Worth 4 pts extra credit for each question.  Write in complete sentences for full credit.
 

 35. 
In the eastern region of the former Soviet Union, a railroad was built on the tundra. The surface soil was dug up, and tracks were laid down over the ground beneath. Within a year, the ground shifted and buckled, and the tracks could not be used. Using your understanding of the tundra, explain what probably happened.
 

 36. 
Create a fictitious environment, and list the various biotic and abiotic factors. Explain why these factors would survive in this environment.
 



 
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